sick day

I spent today at home with my sweet little Harper Lee. It was so good to snuggle her after them being gone with their dad for a few days. Here's how we spent our sick day together.

1. some tulips that I kind of like better dead than I did alive
2. got all fancy with my nails
3. we saw a rainbow. and then a double rainbow. I was actually under rain when I took this and then it was sunny a few feet away.

We also watched lots of Garfield on Netflix, ate soup and giggled a lot. I also sold the kids' crib today. I tried not to shed a tear thinking about how time has flown so quickly that they don't even need a crib anymore. My sweet little babies are sweet little children who are growing too fast. Sutter even lost his other front tooth yesterday. Oh time, sometimes I wish you stood still.

xo,

chelsea

bravo whitney deal

Ooohing and Ahhing over the recently-discovered dress collection from Whitney Deal.

Floral bridesmaid dresses sound like an 80s disaster on paper, but she's managed to make them sweet without being cloying. Would you have a floral-bedecked bridal party?

(EDIT: I've updated the post to include the link to Whitney Deal's website. I guess that's what happens when you post late at the end of the day!)

xo,

chelsea

it's September what??!

I had a really enjoyable time posting random iPhone photos during the August Break, and I had all intentions of returning to regular blogging activities. Which I guess, for me, regular means posting whenever I get a chance or inspiration strikes. I really do keep meaning to be a better blogger, but it just never seems to happen. Maybe if I had a nanny, or a driver, or a maid. But then my life just wouldn't be my life, and that won't do.

I realized this evening that I haven't uploaded photos from our camera since the beginning of June. When I did, I found this photo Carl took of me crossing the street in San Francisco. Kind of made me feel like I had my own paparazzo. 

Happy Friday!

August Break

I decided to join the fun at the August Break as a way to push myself to blog more regularly. While I love blogging, holding down a full-time job and semi-single-mothering usually take precedent over putting together blog posts that I deem worthy of publishing. Instead, I usually publish something that's a half-hearted version of what I truly envisioned. That, or I just go weeks without posting a thing.

I love the idea of a simple photo a day. So here goes...

It was my birthday on Tuesday. And this is what I wore.

xo,

chelsea

tickled pink

Dear Birthday Fairies,

I love hot pink. I love this bag. And I'd be tickled pink if this somehow magically arrived for my birthday. Just sayin'.

xo,

chelsea

Rocks

Currently loving all the geode inspired designs being created out there. Images via my Pinterest.

xo,

chelsea

parade perfect

I found out yesterday that my sweet little Harper Lee was picked to walk in the 4th of July parade with some of her summer camp gals at Girls Inc. During "morning celebration" at her first day of camp, I was told she took the mic and told a knock-knock joke. She made quite a few friends that day. 


For today's Wardrobe Wednesday I thought I'd put together a little dream outfit for parade watching this coming 4th of July.


1. Red, White and Blue all in one adorable Lauren Moffatt dress


2. Protect those peepers with some retro Super Lucias.  


3. Shade yourself from the blazing sun with a cool and casual Panama Hat. 


4. Keep hands free for clapping and waving with a cross-body bag. 


5. Wearable sandals for chasing little ones. 


6. Star-spangled nails for fun. 

xo,

chelsea

new suit

[found: here]

I'm totally obsessed with this look and can't stop day-dreaming about finding an awesome chambray suit to pair with my chucks this summer. 

xo,

chelsea

L ♥ V E

I had a great little Mother's Day lunch today at Harper's pre-K class. It was so incredibly sweet hearing all the children talk about their mommies. We were each presented with portraits of us as drawn by our little ones and stories of how much they love us and what they'd buy us with $100. Harper says she loves me to Infinity and she'd buy me a wedding dress, long to the floor with her $100. 

My girl also helped me getting dressed this morning. I thrifted this skirt last summer, but for some reason every time I pulled it out it wasn't quite right. I finally realized it needed to be dressed down for juxtaposition. Sometimes all you need is a little simplicity.

All that pink made Harper happy. And that made me happy. 

[skirt: thrifted, t-shirt: gap, shoes: jessica simpson, bracelets: street vendor, ring: a merry mishap]

xo,

chelsea

color. blocked.

I am totally in love with all the color-blocking out there. Lucky for me, my closet is practically bursting at the seams with color. A whole bunch of impatient color that had been stuffed in the back during my winter-time fascination with blacks and neutrals. If the 80 degree weather is really here to stay, I expect this to be the first of many brightly outfitted days!


ps - please ignore my wrinkled linen...

[skirt: ann taylor; old, blouse: thrifted, kork-ease flatforms: jcrew via ebay, 

necklace: thrifted, sunnies: thrifted]

And one of my favorite fashion photographer

xo,

chelsea

gee-ode

I've been a reader of A Merry Mishap for quite some time now. Her curated finds of simple, clean interiors always makes me feel soothed and relaxed. Plus she's got some serious thrift karma; need to make note to check out thrift stores when in Idaho...whenever that may be.

When I saw her post on some new jewelry she'd made and posted up on Etsy, I scooted over there and snapped some up right away. My first thought was that they were unique and cool. Now, I just can't stop wearing it! I had to head over and pick up some of the bright stuff too - some purple and neon yellow earrings are heading my way soon. Why stop the berry binge?

xo,

chelsea

Berry Bright

I'm always happy when springtime rolls around and the bright colors hit the stores. It's ironic, I finally warmed up to the layered neutrals trend, and now it's bright and bold everywhere I look. I'm always a fan of a colorful life so it's all fine and dandy by me!

Apparently I can't get enough rich berry colors, as evidenced by some recent thrifting loot. Silky, sorbet blouses seem to be hot on my radar. Can't wait to mix these into my warm-weather wear.

A little sneak peek at the new bed I picked up on Craigslist. I'm constantly amazed at the amount of stuff I can squeeze into our little 2-door Honda. All 8.5 feet of this headboard monster fit INSIDE the car. Amazing. I've dubbed it the little Honda That Could. Some new bedding, a decision on those drapes above the bed and I would say the bedroom could be certifiably done. That is until I have another hair-brained idea. A week before finding this bed I look at live-edge wood slabs to make a headboard and then went a full 180 after this showed up on CL. It's safe to say my guy thinks I'm nuts. Although he's rather pleased with the Plycraft Lounger I also just picked up...so it's a fair trade - he deals with me being wacko, I bring home kick-butt furniture.

And this sweet face. It melts me each and every time. He lost a tooth last week. I can't believe how wonderful he gets with every day.

And this absolutely silly girl.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

I can't wait for Thursday - it's when my love comes home from his weekly work trip. 

What are your Easter plans?

xo,

chelsea

Braided and Plaited

I'm having a continued love affair with braids. They're the perfect answer for a messy hair day. They dress up, they dress down and look darn good doing it! 


Some recent plaited pretties:

 (source)

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And check out this awesome how-to from B. Jones Style - she does some seriously amazing hair posts!!

Braids, love or hate them?

xo,

chelsea

Fancy Friday - 3.25.2011

Happy Friday everyone! I, for one, am extremely happy it's Friday. Not for any particular reason other than I'm excited to relax and create this weekend. I'm not sure how most people are, but it takes me some time to get in my creative groove - but then once I'm there I feel like things really flow. Now I see why people in creative jobs come up with amazing things. Carl says the same is true for coding. You need the music right, the mood right, food at the ready and a solid chunk of time. In any case, I'm hoping to "find the zone" this weekend.






Here's some things I fancied this week...

Some great around-the-house uses for vodka, if you're not drinking it that is.

Peach and mint never seemed so good together. I've been obsessing ever since I saw this pairing.

I made this pretty garland today and I love the way it turned out. Simple but sweet.

Thank goodness for Google Translate! Now I can read Annaleena's Hem without dragging Carl in the room to translate. Her home is beautiful and chic and her DIYs are perfection.

This Pantone magnet DIY is fun and cheery. Perfect for spring's colorblocking madness.

A fun ode to brown-baggin' it for lunch.

Is anyone else as obsessed with Pinterest as I am? Find me here.

Besides my get-creative plans for this weekend, I'm also excited for Spring Cleaning! Is that weird - that I look forward to cleaning? It's calming for me and always makes me feel like it's easier to get through the week with an organized (if not full to the brim) home. Plus, spring is time for changing things up around the house and making things feel shiny and new!

What are you up to?

XO,

Chelsea

Dressed - gray sidewalks

This has been a pretty wet week for us California folks. Unlike most everyone else - who seems to be beckoning spring like a siren at sea - I'm holding on to the winter. We rarely get what I call "weather" around these parts and it's nice to have a change once in a while. Plus it gives us a chance to break out the sweaters, boots and jackets that are usually saved for "cold" places. Yes, we are kind of sissies in California.  But the silver lining is that the thrift store run amuck with cold weather goodies. I scored this awesome sweater the other day and couldn't wait to break it out. I was so excited to wear it, that I enlisted my favorite little photographer for some impromptu snaps.

(sweater - thrifted,

pants - j crew minnie,

boots - sam edelman - amazing LF stores sale!!)

Not to be left out, this little miss wanted to show off her rainbow brights. I'm pretty sure her outfit picks these days deserve their own fashion blog. 

And Sutter wanted to be in front of the camera for a bit too! Showing off all his mad karate skills. Hi-ya!

I hope you are having a lovely week! I'm very happy that tomorrow is Thursday and this long week is coming to an end. I'm looking forward to a relaxing, craft-filled weekend!!

XO,

Chelsea